Guild Wars 2

What is it exactly that makes Ranger so undesirable? In WvW, and frequently outside of WvW as well (mind you less so in dungeons), I see them quite a bit despite their bad rep. Engineer is probably the profession I see the least of (although this has nothing to do with a bad rep, only a high learning curve.)
What gives? Are Rangers just afraid to admit they love their profession? I recently made one and because I’m a heavily defensive player, it really, really suits my playstyle. And to be honest, it may be one of my new favorite professions. I’m just curious why exactly so many people seem to dislike the Ranger.
Decent damage, able to avoid damage due to range (obviously), knockbacks and the pet tanking or knocking the enemy down. I’m just not sure I understand why why Ranger is the adopted child in this family.

On the note of my new found love for the class; How does p/t/v (soldier’s) and scholar runes sound for a gear set up? Power based Ranger.

well theres 3 reason why people misjudge ranger

1. The kittened mentality that everything that doesnt deal pure damage or dont bring a thousand utility is a useless class.
2. The fact ranger is a jack of all trade and master of none wich makes it replacable by prety much all the other class
3. The fact people hate the pet AI so much they all cry for a fix, me i just want an overall pet damage increase.

Players like Bows. We would like to have anything considerable as proper bow. Sadly, ANet doesn’t.

I wonder what would happen if they gave the thief a Longbow and/or changed the Shortbow skills to be actual weapon skills instead of utility….what would happen to the Ranger population?

Rangers suck, but I still enjoy playing it a lot more than my godmode op as hell warrior.
I’m exaggerating a bit, but I think most rangers will know where I’m coming from with this.

In every MMO and online game i have played, the ranger, hunter, sniper archetype is always popular.

Problem #1: The class provides nothing substantial to a group because the vast majority of the class’ utility is on their pets, which are useless in WvW.

Problem #2: The class has no burst at all so it can’t finish targets off or provide burst pressure when roaming. This is why most run condis in small group and tab target while pressing 1 with longbows in zerg.

Problem #3: The class has no real AE. Barrage is pathetically weak doing about the same damage as shortbow to 5 targets. Cripple is the least valuable form of CC in WvW. It has a channel time which makes it sub par for a kiting class. It will eat you alive because of retaliation.

Problem #4: Most people made Rangers wanting to be a Ranged class. The Ranged weapons are the least interactive ways to play this class. You spend the majority of your time doing nothing but spamming auto attack to no great effect. You just turn on auto and strafe in circles till you eventually outlive the opponent.

Fix some of these things and the class may actually get some attention from the commanders in WvW.

Said it once said it a thousand times:

I love my Ranger but I hate my pet.

Bad Ranger players make the general view of the class bad… but really it depends on what game mode you’re referring to specifically.

Castaliea.3156:

I wonder what would happen if they gave the thief a Longbow and/or changed the Shortbow skills to be actual weapon skills instead of utility….what would happen to the Ranger population?

Easy. Half of Rangers would roll a Thief. Including myself